Obesity

Obesity is a very common issue in cats; 25 to 30 percent of cats are obese. This is not just an issue of looks. Obesity causes several diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, respiratory disease, musculoskeletal disease, liver disease, and urinary disease.

All cats are prone to obesity, but some are more at risk, including:

Mixed breeds

Spayed or neutered cats (because they are fed the same amount, but don’t have enough energy for exercise)

2 to 8 year olds

CAUSE:

Too much calorie intake

Not enough exercise

SIGNS:

Decreased activity

Difficulty breathing

Extra body fat (on the abdomen, back, limbs, and face)

No visible waist

Ribs cannot be felt

Greasy or flaky hair

Heat intolerance

DIAGNOSIS:

Your vet will feel your cat’s body, and easily make a diagnosis. He may also perform blood and urine tests to rule out other diseases.

TREATMENT:

To lose weight, your cat must burn more calories than it eats. This consists of:

Eating less: Feed your cat strictly measured meals as per your vet

Increase in exercise: Provide toys, cat trees, window perches, etc. for your cat to play with. If you get involved, your cat will play and move more. Another idea is to put food in an unusual place, so your cat will have to go look for it. This is especially helpful with very overweight cats that don’t have energy for exercise or games